alistairmaclean.bearisland-第41部分

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　in　his　quest　for　fresh　air　and　I　hoped　that　he　hadn't　managed　to　lose　himself　between　the　cabin　and　the　provisions　hut。　Allen；　almost　certainly；　had　gone　to　lie　down　again　and　I　presumed　that　Mary　Darling；　who　appeared　to　have　overe　a　great　number　of　her　earlier　inhibitions；　had　returned　to　her　dutiful　handholding。　I　couldn't　imagine　where　the　Three　Apostles　had　got　to　nor　was　I　particularly　worried：　I　was　sure　that　there　was　nothing　to　fear　from　them　other　than　permanent　damage　to　the　eardrums。
　I　crossed　to　where　Conrad　was　presiding　over　a　three…burner　oil　cooker　mounted　on　top　of　a　stove。　He　had　two　large　pans　and　a　large　pot　all　bubbling　away　at　once；　stew；　beans　and　coffee；　and　he　seemed　to　be　enjoying　his　role　of　chef　not　least；　I　guessed；　because　he　had　Mary　Stuart　as　his　assistant。　In　another　man　I　would　have　looked　for　a　less　than　altruistic　motive　in　this　cheerful　willingness；　the　hail…fellow…well…met　leading　man　playing　the　democrat　to　an　admiring　gallery；　but　I　knew　enough　of　Conrad　now　to　realise　that　this　formed　no　part　of　his　nature　at　all：　he　was　just　a　naturally　helpful　character　who　never　thought　to　place　himself　above　his　fellow　actors。　Conrad；　I　thought；　must　be　a　very　rare　avis　indeed　in　the　cinema　world。
　〃What's　all　this；　then？〃　I　said。　‘You　qualified　for　this　sort　of　thing。　I　thought　Otto　had　appointed　the　Three　Apostles　as　alternate　chefs？〃
　〃The　Three　Apostles　had　it　in　mind　to　start　improving　their　musical　technique　in　this　very　spot；〃　Conrad　said。　I　did　a　self…defence　trade　with　them。　They're　practising　across　in　the　equipment　hut…you　know；　where　the　generator　is。〃
　I　tried　to　imagine　the　total　degree　of　cacophony　produced　by　their　tatonal　voices；　their　amplified　instruments　and　the　diesel　engine　in　a　confined　space　of　eight　by　eight；　but　my　imagination　wasn't　up　to　it。　I　said：　〃You　deserve　a　medal。　You　too；　Mary　dear。〃
　〃Me？〃　She　smiled。　〃Why？〃
　〃Remember　what　I　said　about　the　goodies　pairing　off　with　the　baddies？
　Delighted　to　see　you　keeping　a　close　eye　on　our　suspect　here。　Haven't　seen　his　hand　hovering　suspiciously　long　over　one　of　the　pots；　have　you？〃
　She　stopped　smiling。　I　don't　think　that's　funny；　Dr。　Marlowe。〃
　I　don't　think　it　is　either。　A　clumsy　attempt　to　lighten　the　atmosphere。〃
　I　looked　at　Conrad。　〃Can　I　have　a　word　with　the　chef？〃
　Conrad　looked　at　me　briefly；　speculatively；　nodded　and　turned　away。　Mary　Stuart　said：　〃That's　nice。　For　me；　I　mean。　Why　can't　you　have　a　word　with　him　here？〃
　〃I'm　going　to　tell　him　some　funny　stories。　You　don't　seem　to　care　much　for　my　humour。〃　I　walked　away　a　few　paces　with　Conrad　and　said：　〃Had　a　chance　of　a　word　with　Lonnie　yet？〃
　〃No。　I　mean；　I　haven't　had　an　opportunity　yet。　Is　it　that　urgent？〃
　〃I'm　beginning　to　think　it　may　be。　Look；　I　haven't　seen　him　there　but　I'm　certain　as　can　be　that　Lonnie　is　across　in　the　provisions　hut。〃
　〃Where　Otto　keeps　all　those　elixirs　of　life？〃
　〃You　wouldn't　expect　to　find　Lonnie　in　the　fuel　shed。　Diesel　and　petrol　aren't　his　tipples。　I　wonder　if　you　could　go　across　there；　seeking　liquid　solace　from　this　harsh　and　weary　world；　from　Bear　Island；　from　Olympus　Productions；　from　whatever　you　like；　and　engage　him　in　crafty　conversation。　Touch　upon　the　theme　of　how　you're　missing　your　family。　Anything　just　get　him　to　tell　you　about　his。〃
　He　hesitated。　I　like　Lonnie。　I　don't　like　this　job。〃
　〃I'm　past　caring　now　about　people's　feelings。　I'm　just　concerned　with　people's　lives…that　they　should　keep　on　living；　I　mean。〃
　〃Right。〃　He　nodded　and　looked　at　me　soberly。　〃Taking　a　bit　of　a　chance；　aren't　you？　Enlisting　the　aid　of　one　of　your　suspects；　I　mean。〃
　〃You're　not　on　my　list　of　suspects；〃　I　said。　〃You　never　were。〃
　He　looked　at　me　for　some　moments　then　said：　〃Tell　that　to　Mary　dear；　will　you？〃　He　turned　and　made　for　the　outer　door。　I　returned　to　the　oil　cooker。　Mary　Stuart　looked　at　me　with　her　usual　grave　and　remote　lack　of　expression。
　I　said：　〃Conrad　tells　me　to　tell　you　that　I've　just　told　him…you're　following　me？…that　he's　not　on　my　list　of　suspects　and　never　was。〃
　〃That's　nice。〃　She　gave　me　a　little　smile　but　there　was　a　touch　of　winter　in　it。
　〃Mary；〃　I　said；　〃you　are　displeased　with　me。〃
　〃Well。〃
　〃Well　what？〃
　〃Are　you　a　friend　of　mine？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course。〃　She　mimicked　my　tone　very　creditably。　〃Dr。　Marlowe　is　a　friend　of　all　mankind。〃
　〃Dr。　Marlowe　doesn't　hold　all　mankind　in　his　arms　all　night　long。〃
　Another　smile。　This　time　there　was　a　touch　of　spring　in　it。　She　said：
　〃And　Charles　Conrad？〃
　I　like　him。　I　don't　know　what　he　thinks　about　me。〃
　〃And　I　like　him　and　I　know　he　likes　me　and　so　we're　all　friends　together。〃　I　thought　better　of　saying　〃of　course〃　again　and　just　nodded。　〃So　why　don't　we　all　share　secrets　together？〃
　〃Women　are　the　most　curious　creatures；〃　I　said。　〃In　every　sense　of　the　word　〃curious。〃
　〃Please　don't　be　clever　with　me。〃
　〃Do　you　always　share　secrets？〃　She　frowned　a　little；　as　if　perplexed；　and　I　went　on：　〃Let's　play　kiddies〃　games；　shall　we？　You　tell　me　a　secret　and　I'll　tell　you　one。〃
　〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean？〃
　〃This　secret　assignation　you　had　yesterday　morning。　In　the　snow　and　on　the　upper　deck。　When　you　were　being　so　very　affectionate　with　Heissman。
　I'd　expected　some　very　positive　reaction　from　this　and　was　correspondingly　disappointed　when　there　was　none。　She　looked　at　me；　silently　thoughtful；　then　said：　〃So　you　were　spying　on　us。〃
　I　just　happened　to　chance　by。〃
　〃I　didn't　see　you　chancing　by。〃　She　bit　her　lip；　but　not　in　any　particularly　discernible　anguish。　I　wish　you　hadn't　seen　that。〃
　〃Why？〃　It　had　been　briefly　in　my　mind　to　be　heavily　ironic　but　I　could　hear　a　little　warning　bell　tinkling　in　the　distance。
　〃Because　I　don't　want　people　to　know。〃
　〃That's　obvious；〃　I　said　patiently。　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　I'm　not　very　proud　of　it。　I　have　to　make　a　living；　Dr。　Marlowe。
　I　came　to　this　country　only　two　years　ago　and　I　haven't　got　any　qualifications　for　anything。　I　haven't　even　got　any　qualifications　for　what　I'm　doing　now。　I'm　a　hopeless　actress。　I　know　I　am。　I've　just　got　no　talent　at　all。　
　The　last　two　films　I　was　in…well；　they　were　just　awful。　Are　you　surprised　that　people　give　me　the　cold　shoulder；　why　they're　wondering　out　loud　why　I'm　making　my　third　film　with　Olympus　Productions？　Well；　you　can　guess　now：　Johann　Heissman　is　the　why。〃　She　smiled；　just　a　very　small　smile。　〃You　are　surprised；　Dr。　Marlowe？　Shocked；　perhaps？〃
　〃No。〃
　The　little　smile　went　away。　Some　of　the　life　went　from　her　face　and　when　she　spoke　her　voice　was　dull。　〃It　is　so　easy；　then；　to　believe　this　of　me？〃
　〃Well；　no。　The　point　is　that　I　just　don't　believe　you　at　all！'
　She　looked　at　me；　her　face　a　little　sad　and　quite　unprehending。
　〃You　don't　believe…you　don't　believe　this　of　me？〃
　〃Not　of　Mary　Stuart。　Not　of　Mary　dear。〃
　Some　of　the　life　came　back　and　she　said　almost　wonderingly：　〃That's　the　nicest　thing　anybody's　ever　said　to　me。〃　She　looked　down　at　her　hands；　as　if　hesitating；　then　said；　without　looking　up：　〃Johann　Heissman　is　my　uncle。　My　mother's　brother。〃
　〃Your　uncle？〃　I'd　been　mentally　shuffling　all　sorts　of　possibilities　through　my　mind　but　this　one　hadn't　even　begun　to　occur　to　me。
　〃Uncle　Johann。〃　Again　the　little；　almost　secret　smile；　this　time　with　what　could　have　been　an　imagined　trace　of　mischief：　I　wondered　what　her　smile　would　be　like　if　she　ever　smiled　in　pure　delight　or　happiness。
　〃You　don't　have　to　believe　me。　just　go　and　ask　him　yourself。　But　privately；　if　you　please。〃
　Dinner　that　night　wasn't　much　of　a　social　success。　The　atmosphere　of　cheerful　good　fellowship　which　is　required　to　make　such　munal　gettogethers　go　with　a　swing　was　noticeably　lacking。　This　may　have　been　due；　partially；　to　the　fact　that　most　people　either　ate　by　their　solitary　selves　or；　both　sitting　and　standing；　in　scattered　small　groups　around　the　cabin；　their　attention　almost　exclusively　devoted　to　the　unappetising　goulash　in　the　bowls　held　in　their　hands：　but　it　was　mainly　due　to　the　fact　that　everybody　was　clearly　and　painfully　aware　that　we　were　experiencing　the　secular　equivalent　of　our　own　last　supper。　For　the　interest　in　the　food　was　not　all…absorbing：　frequently；　but　very；　very　briefly；　a　pair　of　eyes　would　break　off　their　rapt　munion　with　the　stew　and　beans；　glance　swiftly　around　the　cabin；　then　return　in　an　oddly　guilty　defensiveness　to　the　food　as　if　the　person　had　hoped　in　that　one　lightning　ocular　sortie　to　discover　some　unmistakable　telltale　signs　that　would　infallibly　identify　the　traitor　in　our　midst。　There　were；　needless　to　say；　no　such　overt　indications　of　self…betrayal　on　display；　and　the　problem　of　identification　was　deepened　and　confused　by　the　fact　that　most　of　those　present　exhibited　a　measure　of　abnormality　in　their　behaviour　that　would　ordinarily　have　given　rise　to　more　than　a　modicum　of　suspicion　anyway。　for　it　is　an　odd　characteristic　of　human　nature　that　even　the　most　innocent　person　who　knows　himself　or　herself　to　be　under　suspicion　tends　to　overreact　with　an　unnatural　degree　of　casual　indifference　and　insouciant　unconcern　that　serves　only　to　heighten　the　original　suspicion。
　Otto；　clearly；　was　not　one　of　those　thus　afflicted。　Whether　it　was　because　he　knew　himself　to　be　one　of　those　who　was　regarded　as　being　pletely　in　the　clear　or　because；　as　chairman　of　the　pany　and　producer　of　the　film；　he　regarded　himself　as　being　above　and　apart　from　the　problems　that　afflicted　the　mon　run　of　mankind；　Otto　was　remarkably　posed；　and；　astonishingly；　even　forceful　and　assertive。　Unlikely　though　it　had　appeared　up　to　that　moment；　Otto；　normally　so　dithering　and　indecisive；　might　well　be　one　of　those　who　only　showed　of　their　best　in　the　moments　of　crisis。　There　was　certainly　nothing　dithering　or　indecisive　about　him　when　he　rose　to　speak　at　the　end　of　the　meal。
　〃We　are　all　aware；〃　said　Otto　briskly；　〃of　the　dreadful　happenings　of　the　past　day　or　two　and　I　think　that　we　have　no　alternative　to　accepting　Dr。　Marlowe's　interpretation　of　the　events。　Further；　I　fear　we　have　to　accept　as　very　real　the　doctor's　warnings　as　to　what　may　happen　in　the　near　future。
　〃Those　are　inescapable　facts　and　entirely　conceivable　possibilities　so　please　don't　for　a　moment　imagine　that　I'm　trying　to　minimise　the　seriousness　of　the　situation。　On　the　contrary；　it　would　be　impossible　to　exaggerate　it；　impossible　to　exaggerate　an　impossible　situation。　Here　we　are；　marooned　in　the　high　Arctic　and　beyond　any　reach　of　help；　with　the　knowledge　that　there　are　those　of　us　who　have　e　to　a　violent　end　and　that　this　violence　may　not　yet　be　over。〃　He　looked　unhurriedly　around　the　pany　and　I　did　the　same：　I　could　see　that　there　were　quite　a　number　who　were　as　impressed　by　Otto's　calm　assessment　of　the　situation　as　I　was。　He　went　on：　〃It　is　precisely　because　the　state　of　affairs　in　which　we　find　ourselves　is　so　unbelievable　and　so　abnormal　that　I　suggest　we　port　ourselves　in　the　most　rational　and　normal　fashion　possible。　A　descent　into　hysteria　will　achieve　no　reversal　of　the　awful　things　that　have　just　occurred　and　can　only　harm　all　of　us。　〃Accordingly；　my　colleagues　and　I　have　decided　that；　subject；　of　course；　to　taking　every　possible　precaution；　we　should　proceed　with　the　business　in　hand…the　reason　why　we　came　to